October Think Zink: REALLY?

"Think Zink" Newsletter

October 2011

REALLY?
The Crazy Things People Do...

This month's newsletter is a menagerie of sorts - a compilation of a variety of "REALLY?" moments that I've collected in the past 30 days or so.

I'm sharing these real-life examples of behavior I've seen (and experienced) in a professional setting from 'professional' people in the hopes of highlighting some of the crazy things people do when using the phone and email.

I encourage you to thoughtfully consider if you do any of these "REALLY?" behaviors. Often, our bad habits are nothing more than "void-fillers"; that is, behaviors we have developed because we didn't have anything better to put in their place.

This month's newsletter is designed to help you identify those negative communication habits and gives you ideas of better behaviors to put in their place.

If you have any examples not listed here and ideas of better behavior, please feel free to share them with me at: szink@SarahZink.com.

P.S. Are you writing a newsletter and need some "snippets" of information? You are welcome to quote anything in this e-zine, provided you give appropriate credit.

Check out back issues of Sarah's newsletters!

"If you waste your money, you can always earn more, but once you waste your time, it's gone forever."

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"It's not enough to say you want to be a better communicator, you have to work at it EVERY day."

In This Issue

Note from Sarah

ONLY Using Email....

Answering Your Phone in a Meeting to Tell Someone You'll Call Them Back

REALLY? That's what voicemail is for! Statistically, these calls are returned LESS THAN 25% of the time! When you do this, you are sending a message - the message is that you are too foolish to let your technology work for you. You also are highly likely to forget to return the call, sending a further message that the caller wasn't important.

A Better Way: TURN OFF your phone in a meeting (unless you are expecting a baby or a transplant). Let your voicemail do the work. When you are in a meeting, BE in the moment. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble by taking things in turn - be in the meeting, check your voicemail after.

If you are one of the people in the workplace that does this, I guarantee that you lose on two counts:

You lose with the message you send with your behavior to the people with whom you are meeting, and
You lose with the message you send with your behavior to the person that is calling you.

If you would like Sarah to come and speak

to your group, organization or company,
please click HERE.

Answering the Phone Only to Tell Someone

You are Walking Out the Door

(or going to a meeting, or...)

REALLY? When you do this, you are essentially telling someone that they are not important enough to continue the conversation, because CLEARLY you were expecting it to be an "important" call.

A Better Way: DON'T answer the phone, any phone, unless you are able to talk. When you take a call and then "screen" the caller, you run the risk of offending, dismissing, or sending another type of negative message that you may not have intended to send.

Understanding your employee and co-worker's behavior is critical to success. Stop wondering and learn how and why people act the way they do and how to manage and work with them for success.

Click HERE to schedule Sarah to speak to your company.

Quick Links...

"Call Me" Voicemail Messages

REALLY? In what way could you possibly think that this type of voicemail message was a productive use of your time? How could anyone getting this message prioritize or prepare for a return call? By leaving this voicemail message, you are essentially holding the recipient of the call "hostage", and by your behavior sending the message that you are unconcerned with their ability to prioritize or prepare to call you back. It simply wastes time - and none of us have time to waste.

A Better Way: Make your voicemail count - tell the caller in 30 seconds or less who you are, what the ACTION ITEM is, and when is the best time to call you. If you think it's necessary, include the best number at which to reach you, as well.

The ability to use the phone to your advantage is a powerful tool in the workplace. Effective "away" messages and productive messages left on others' voicemail are critical to improving performance.

Click HERE to schedule Sarah to speak to your company.

New Online Blog!

Check out Platforms.TV

ONLY Using Email as a Means to
Contact Someone with an Important
(or Urgent) Message

REALLY? Email isn't magic, it doesn't provide a "psychic" link to the other person, and - in this day and age of powerful spam filters - your message might not reach the sender AT ALL {GASP!} Famous last words include, "But I sent you an email!" Using email as a means of contacting someone with an urgent message or with important information is the hallmark of an amateur email communicator.

A Better Way: Sitting on your desk right now, or in your pocket or purse is a handy little device called a phone. It's a virtually instantaneous way to reach someone and, if you miss them, you can leave them an effective voicemail message (see above). It's amazing how this little gadget can work in tandem with email. Simply call and let the other person know that you are sending them an email that requires their immediate attention or that has further information. You can also tell them that if they don't receive the message to let you know.

Email is a powerful tool that can make or break your ability to be an effective and productive worker and communicator. Don't let bad habits sabotage your ability to get things done.

Click HERE to hire Sarah to come and speak to your company.